Shiny ROM

This is Shiny ROM. Here, we believe that everyone deserves
to have a pure Android experience.

Shiny ROM began as a project for the Verizon Galaxy Nexus, a device created with good intentions but abandoned by its carrier.
As Verizon Galaxy Nexus users, we saw the community's need for an option that would let users keep their devices up-to-date without sacrificing the stock Android
experience intended for Nexus devices. From this vision, Shiny ROM was born.

Supported Devices

Below is a list of devices currently supported by Shiny ROM. We have just begun to branch out from the Galaxy Nexus line of
devices in recent months, so you can expect to see a more diverse list of devices in the near future. If you would like to request
that Shiny ROM add support for a specific device, please contact us.

2012 WiFi-Only Nexus 7 (grouper)

International/GSM Galaxy Nexus (maguro)

Verizon Galaxy Nexus (toro)

Installation

You can use the general set of instructions below to install Shiny ROM on any supported device. Please note that the instructions may vary slightly depending on your device and custom recovery type and version, among other things. These instructions also assume that your device is already running the latest version of a custom recovery, preferably ClockworkMod Recovery or Team Win Recovery Project. If you need additional help or more specific directions, please contact us or head to your device's Shiny ROM forum thread.

Ensure that your device is running the latest version of your preferred custom recovery (ClockworkMod, Team Win, etc.)

Download the latest build of Shiny ROM. If you don't download the build directly to your device, transfer it to your device via USB. (If you want to verify that your download is not corrupted using the supplied MD5 hash, this is a good time to do so.)

Reboot your device into recovery mode. In Shiny ROM, this can be done by holding down your device's power button, long-pressing "Power off" and tapping "Enter recovery mode."

Wipe your device's cache.

Wipe your device's dalvik cache.Important note: the next step is optional, and performing it will erase all of your user data (installed apps, saved accounts, etc.) You should perform this step if you are coming from a ROM that is not Shiny ROM, if you are coming from a different major version of Android (e.g. 4.3 vs. 4.4), or if you are experiencing irregular problems that are not resolved using usual methods.

Wipe your device's data/factory reset.

Install the build downloaded in step 2. (This is usually referred to as flashing a ZIP from storage in custom recoveries.)

Toro

Changelog

About Us

As described above, Shiny ROM is an Android ROM built on the philosophy that network providers and manufacturers should be trying to improve on-device user experience, not detract from it. That is, in the Android ecosystem, users benefit most from timely updates to system software as these updates become available from the original software provider, Google. However, due to long, drawn-out testing and certification processes, manufacturer customization, and corporate politics, these updates, even when they include essential security updates or bug fixes, often take months to be delivered to users. Fortunately, because the source code for Android is openly provided by Google, custom ROMs like Shiny ROM can help to hasten the update process. Additionally, these ROMs and their communities often provide support for devices long after they are abandoned by their carriers or manufacturers.

Shiny ROM, like many other ROMs in the Android community, attempts to fill in the gaps created by manufacturers and carriers by providing frequent software updates and long-term support for devices. What makes Shiny ROM unique, however, is its focus on simplicity and minimalism. Rather than trying to build a new operating system with custom features and novel technical layers driving the operating system, we emphasize the importance of providing a pure, stock Android experience. We believe that this is important for many reasons. First, it reduces the chance for bugs in system software and it allows for faster updates to the ROM when Google releases updates to Android. Second, we admire the design language and ecosystem that Google has developed for Android throughout its life, and we want to completely preserve the design, the experience, that is Android. Third and last, we believe that Android devices run best using pure Android software.

Based on this philosophy, Shiny ROM delivers an experience that is as close to the stock Android experience as possible. We often include minor bugfixes or patches for software running on older devices that are no longer officially supported by Google. Shiny ROM also allows for modifications to the stock system through modular, installable ZIP packages that can do anything from allow root access to make UI changes. Right now, we are actively exploring and developing a framework to continue to deliver a totally stock, 100% pure Android experience while also including built-in optional customization. In addition to this development, we are also working on expanding Shiny ROM support to various devices. We look forward to working with our amazingly supportive community in the future to make Shiny ROM a truly enjoyable and inspiring experience for everyone.

Contact

You can use the form below to quickly get in touch with us. Feel free to let us know about anything from bug reports to feature requests. Even if
you'd just like to ask us a simple question or get to know us better, please don't hesitate to contact us!